North Jetty (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on offer.

Honestly, it's a tough run for North Jetty (Hikkaduwa) over this 16-day stretch. The first decent chance doesn't come until Friday, September 4th, and it's a marginal one. The morning might show a 4ft swell from the SSW, but there's a risk of thunderstorms, and the water is a touch warmer than normal at 84°F, with an anomaly of 2°F above average.

After that, it's a long dry spell. From Friday afternoon right through the first week, the conditions are poor. The wind is onshore from the WSW and SW, blowing 12 to 15 mph, and the swell drops to 2 to 3 feet. The wave energy is weak, and the quality just isn't there. It's a real shame because you see some long period swells, up to 16 seconds, but the wind is spoiling it.

The second week sees the swell pick up, from the 10th of September onwards, with 4 to 6 foot swells from the SSW and SW, and the wave energy gets strong. But the wind is still the problem. It's a solid 15 to 18 mph from the W and WSW, blowing onshore the whole time. The period hits 18 seconds on the 12th, which is a very long period groundswell that should be perfect for a point break, but the wind is just trashing it. It's a washing machine. The only slight change is on the 14th of September afternoon when the wind goes cross-onshore, but it's still messy.

The only glimmer of something different is at the very end, on the 19th of September. The Saturday morning has a 4ft SW swell, and the wind drops to 12 mph. Then Saturday afternoon, the swell jumps to 6 feet from the SSW, with a 15-second period. It's still "marginal," but it's the closest we get to a pulse. Still, the wind is onshore, so it's not clean.

If I had to pick the best of a bad lot, I'd point to that first morning on the 4th of September. It's a 4ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, and the wind is a gentle 9 mph from the WSW. It's a long shot, but it's the only shot. The crowds can be a problem sometimes at North Jetty, but with conditions this poor, you might have it to yourself.

For most of this period, this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The wind is strong and consistent, and the swell is there, but the quality for a surfboard is just not good.

Rusty.

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